“Somebody” Will Open the Shanghai International Film Festival

In Pursuit of Dream,Don’t Forget Why

Recently,Shanghai International Film Festival announced that I Am Somebody will be the opening film of the festival this year. I Am Somebody is a new directorial work from Tung-Shing Yee. The screening in SIFF should be the world debut. Besides the director and the distributor Bona Film Group, many “Somebodies” from Hengdian will appear on the red carpet. Besides, Ballet in Flames of War, a Sino-Russian co-production will be the closing film of the festival this year.

Yee’s I Am Somebody talked about life and work of a group of extras working in the world’s largest film base, Hengdian. As the opening film, SIFF believes a story talking about Chinese filmmakers themselves in the current state will resonate with all those who love film.

Yee said, “If you have never heard about Hengdian, you must go visit it. To Chinese film industry, it is the most classic.” To him, the enormous film building efforts in Hengdian and those hardworking “Somebodies” are a miracle in Chinese film industry. “I believe everyone who joins film industry had a dream in the beginning. Hengdian is a place of dreamers. Their moving stories touched me, where I eventually decided to make the film I Am Somebody.” He also expressed his sincere thanks to SIFF, where more people will get to know those “Somebodies”. Yu Dong, CEO of Bona Film Group, distributor of I am Somebody addressed, “We all have come from those unknown ‘somebodies’, the story will remind us: in pursuit of dream, don’t forget why.”

During the opening ceremony of SIFF on June 13, Tung-Shing Yee, Yu Dong and many Hengdian workers will appear on the red carpet.